“I’m not sure I’ve heard the Devaney this loud for this long, every point, and um, so, thanks to our crowd, they were unbelievable today,“ said an ecstatic head coach, John Cook. The Huskers entertained their home crowd of 8,743 fans and defeated No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers in straight sets to advance to the NCAA Semifinals. The first set? A nail-biter at 26-24. The second? Pure domination at 25-17. And the third? An amazing turnaround from 15-11 down to 25-21. And yes, Harper Murray was on fire—10 kills, 12 digs, and earning the Lincoln Regional Most Outstanding Player title. But it wasn’t all hype and high-fives.

By the end of the match, emotions were through the roof. Harper Murray? Full-on tears as she found her way into Coach Cook’s arms. It wasn’t just about the win—it was about the grind, the struggles, the journey. Coach Cook later spilled some raw truth about the challenges Harper has faced, and let’s just say her redemption arc hits differently.

John Cook reveals the hardships!

Turns out, Harper Murray was not the only one who had all the feels. As reported by Journal Star, not even the head coach of the team, John Cook could restrain himself and he cried after Nebraska’s grand victory. “Everything we had to go through — it was emotional, it was draining,” Cook said, barely holding back the tears. “There were times where she wanted to give up, I wanted to give up. If it wasn’t for the staff and her team, she would not be here.” Whew, talk about a gut punch of honesty. Right there, on the edge of Nebraska’s iconic Taraflex court, Cook and Murray shared a heartfelt moment. She wiped away tears, and he leaned in to whisper something just for her ears. His message? That he is proud of her!

Flashback to last year: when John Cook’s Huskers fell short against the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Finals, it wasn’t just a loss on the scoreboard—it hit Harper Murray hard. Despite her rock-solid season, the sting of that defeat left her grappling with emotions. But instead of wallowing, the 6’2” outside hitter made a bold prediction during the post-final press conference: “I think we’re going to win three national championships (in) the next three years.”

Cue the internet uproar. While some saw her statement as confidence, others weren’t so kind—calling it arrogant, boastful, even distasteful. The trolls? Oh, they had a field day, turning Murray into their target of the moment. But fast forward to now, December 15, and guess what? The Huskers are inching closer to making the first of her bold claims a reality. Harper’s been a total game-changer this season, playing a huge role in Nebraska’s magic run. And let’s be real—none of this might’ve been possible without Coach Cook’s unwavering belief in her. Some might call it fate; others, redemption. Either way, the journey’s been pure poetry.

Harper owes it all to Cook!

Huge criticism, personal drama, and an emotional storm—enough to shake any athlete. But Harper Murray? She’s experienced it all since last year’s NCAA final loss. But falling into the pit? Not on John Cook’s watch. Her coach blocked out the distractions, focused on trust, and stayed with her during the mess. Legal issues? Unforgiving trolls? Cook didn’t flinch. He retained her on each active Husker list and proved to the world what the meaning of loyalty is. And Harper? She saw it all—every act of faith, every hard truth, and every ounce of emotional grit from her coach left a mark on her soul.

Thinking about it, Murray said that Cook wasn’t exactly thrilled with her choices at times. But she also showed how he honored the promise he made to her mom—holding her accountable while showing grace. “He wasn’t happy with me,” she shared, “But at the same time, he promised my mom that he would be there for me. And that’s exactly what he did.” That is just Cook—never abandoning his players even when things got to their worst.

For Murray, this wasn’t just support—it was fuel. She made it her mission to make him proud, even admitting she’d dragged the program through some tough spots. “I have a lot of love and respect for him,” she said. “I wouldn’t be the person or player I am without him.” And now? She’s out there on the court, flipping the script, giving her all for the coach who never gave up on her. Now that’s redemption served Husker-style!